As a busy parent, getting a healthy dinner ready after a long day can be tough. That’s where your slow cooker is a lifesaver! With some prep in the morning, you’ll find a tasty, ready-to-eat meal waiting for you. These 10 easy school night dinners slow cooker recipes will be your favorite for busy weeknights.
These crock pot dinners include kid-friendly favorites like mac and cheese. They also offer hearty soups and stews. They’re designed to make your life easier, with minimal prep and hands-off cooking. You’ll have more time with your family and less stress about dinner. Plus, they’re one-pot meals, so cleaning up is a breeze!
We’ve collected a range of recipes for every taste, including vegetarian options. You’ll find comforting potato soup and zesty beef tacos. So, get your crock pot ready for delicious, stress-free family dinners!
Table of Contents
Save Time and Stress with Slow Cooker Meals
Slow cookers are a lifesaver for busy parents during the school year. They require minimal prep and let you cook hands-off. This means you can have a delicious, time-saving recipe ready when you get home. Slow cooker meals make stress-free weeknights possible, helping you handle the chaos of back-to-school.
The Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker for School Night Dinners
Slow cookers offer many benefits for busy families:
- Ideal for hectic fall schedules, providing warm and nutritious dishes with minimal effort
- Help manage meal prepping efficiently, saving time in the kitchen
- Perfect for the chaos of the back-to-school season
Crockpots, slow cookers, and Instapots are all great for hands-off cooking. Each has its own special features:
| Appliance | Features |
|---|---|
| Crockpot | Classic option with ceramic inserts suitable for soups, stews, and longer cooking times |
| Slow Cooker | Similar to a crockpot but offers more settings and heating elements |
| Instapot | Multi-cooker featuring pressure-cooking functions that reduce cook time significantly |
Minimal Prep Time and Hands-Off Cooking
One of the best slow cooker benefits is how little prep you need. By using batch cooking and freezer meals, you can make meal prep easier. This includes:
- Selecting recipes
- Shopping for ingredients
- Cooking and freezing portions for later
A client used easy crockpot meals to stay on track with health goals during busy weeks. Prepping meals ahead meant they had wholesome dinners without daily cooking. This helped them stick to their weight management plan.
Slow cookers offer many options for time-saving recipes that everyone will enjoy. Start using slow cooking for stress-free weeknights all school year!
Kid-Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes
Finding meals that everyone likes can be tough. Picky eaters and different tastes make dinner hard. But, these slow cooker recipes are a hit. They’re tasty, healthy, and perfect for kids.
Slow cooker chicken tacos are a winner. They need just 10 minutes to prep and 7 hours to cook. You mix chicken, veggies, salsa, spices, and beans in the slow cooker. When dinner time comes, you get tender chicken ready for tacos. And, it’s only 424 calories per serving, making it a healthy choice.
Slow cooker mac and cheese is another favorite. It’s a classic comfort food made easy in the slow cooker. It’s creamy, cheesy, and kids love it. Just 15 minutes of work and a few hours later, you have a delicious meal.
“My kids devoured this mac and cheese! It’s so easy to make, and the slow cooker does all the work. We’ll definitely be adding this to our regular rotation.”
Slow cooker sloppy joes are a fun twist on a classic. They need 20 minutes of prep and then the slow cooker takes over. The result is a tangy, sweet filling perfect for sandwiches. Kids love the messy, hands-on nature, and it’s easy to make.
These slow cooker favorites will become family favorites. They’re easy to make and let you spend more time with your loved ones. So, get your slow cooker ready and enjoy delicious meals together!
Slow Cooker Tacos for Busy Weeknights
Tacos are a favorite for many families. This easy slow cooker taco recipe makes a delicious taco night possible, even on busy weeknights. The recipe features tender, flavorful beef that cooks perfectly in your slow cooker with little effort.
This recipe is designed to be easy without sacrificing taste. It only takes 15 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook. You’ll have a tasty meal ready in under 30 minutes. It serves 4, making it great for family dinners or small gatherings.
Beef Tacos with Minimal Ingredients
This slow cooker tacos recipe needs just a few ingredients. The main item is 6 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They cook to tender perfection in the slow cooker. The recipe also includes a mix of spices and seasonings that add delicious flavors to the beef.
Customize with Your Favorite Toppings
When your slow cooker beef is ready, it’s time to build your tacos. This is where the fun starts! You can add your favorite toppings, such as:
- Fresh salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Diced onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapeños
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
You can choose any toppings you like, making each taco unique. This recipe is sure to become a favorite for easy taco nights.
The nutritional information per serving (1 of 4) is as follows:
| Calories | Carbohydrates | Protein | Fat | Fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 529 | 39g | 37g | 25g | 7g |
Leftover slow cooker beef taco filling can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or, freeze it for up to 3 months. It’s perfect for meal prep or quick lunches.
One-Pot Slow Cooker Meals
One-pot slow cooker meals are a lifesaver for school nights. They’re delicious, comforting, and easy to clean up. With just one pot, you save time and enjoy your evening more.
Slow cooker soups, stews, and chilis are great examples. Just add your ingredients in the morning. By dinner, you’ll have a tasty meal ready. The slow cooking blends flavors for a rich taste.
Fewer Dishes to Clean
One-pot meals mean less cleaning. You only need to wash one pot. This saves time and energy, perfect for busy nights.
Here are some interesting facts about slow cooker recipes:
| Recipe Type | Percentage of Recipes |
|---|---|
| Mexican cuisine | 1.85% |
| Comfort food mash-up | 1.85% |
| Bacon and cheeseburger soup | 1.85% |
| Family favorite | 1.85% |
| Sneaking in vegetables for kids | 1.85% |
| Easy slow-cooker chicken Parmesan | 1.85% |
| Ginger spice flavored | 1.85% |
| Minnesota hot dish-inspired | 1.85% |
| Low-preparation meals for busy days | 1.85% |
| Versatile saucy brats | 1.85% |
| Wholesome mac & cheese | 1.85% |
There are countless one-pot slow cooker recipes. From brisket to veggie soup, you’ll always find something tasty. Enjoy the ease and quality time with your family.
Tender and Juicy Slow Cooker Beef Chops
Looking for an easy beef chop recipe? These slow cooker beef chops are perfect. They’re tender, juicy, and easy to make. Great for busy school nights when you need a quick, delicious meal.
Slow cooking makes beef chops tender and juicy. The low heat breaks down the meat’s fibers. You can also add your favorite seasonings, making it a hit with everyone.
Choose thicker beef chops to avoid drying out. Bone-in chops are flavorful, but boneless works well too. Here’s a quick breakdown of the nutritional information per serving:
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 376 kcal | 19% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 31% |
| Sodium | 495mg | 22% |
Try different flavors to keep things interesting. Some favorites include:
- Apples and beef, a classic combination
- Marinating the chops before slow cooking for extra flavor
- Adding a bacon jam or cream sauce topping
- Using foil packets to create individual servings
- Incorporating Asian or Mexican-inspired seasonings
Slow cooker beef chops are a staple for easy dinners. They’re tender, juicy, and full of flavor. A winner every time!
Creamy Slow Cooker Potato Soup
As the nights get cooler, nothing is better than a warm bowl of slow cooker potato soup. It’s creamy and hearty, perfect for busy weeknights. With just a few ingredients and little prep, you’ll have a tasty meal ready after a long day.
A Comforting Meal for Cool Nights
This recipe makes 6 servings, each with 517 calories. It includes frozen hashbrowns, diced ham, chicken broth, cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and more. Just add everything to your slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours on low.
The soup is creamy and dreamy, earning a 5-star rating from 8 votes. Each serving has 16g of carbs, 15g of protein, and 44g of fat. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals, making it a hit with over 40,000 shares!
Vegan-Friendly Option
For vegans, this soup can be easily made vegan. Use almond milk, coconut cream, and vegan cheese instead of dairy. Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth and leave out the ham for a vegan version.
Whether you make the original or a vegan version, this soup will be a hit. Serve it with crusty bread for dipping. Enjoy the warmth and ease of a homemade meal with little effort.
Plant-Based Slow Cooker Chili
Looking for a hearty, delicious meal that’s vegan and easy to make? This plant-based slow cooker chili is perfect! It’s filled with beans, veggies, and spices. It’s a meatless chili that your family will love.
This vegetarian chili recipe is super customizable. You can choose your favorite beans and add veggies like zucchini or squash. You can also adjust the spice level. It cooks in just 4-5 hours on low, so you can relax while it cooks.
This vegan chili is also super nutritious. Beans are full of protein, fiber, and vitamins. Adding different veggies means you get lots of nutrients. And, it’s animal product-free, making it great for plant-based diets.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Kidney beans | 2 cans |
| Black beans | 1 can |
| Diced tomatoes | 1 can |
| Onion | 1, diced |
| Bell pepper | 1, diced |
| Chili powder | 2 tbsp |
| Cumin | 1 tbsp |
| Garlic powder | 1 tsp |
To make this chili, just drain and rinse your beans and chop your veggies. Put everything in the slow cooker with some broth or water. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. When you come back, you’ll have a warm, comforting meal ready. Top it with avocado, cilantro, or vegan cheese.
This vegan slow cooker chili is so easy and delicious, even my meat-loving family members love it!
Try this plant-based slow cooker chili for a healthy, satisfying meal. It’s easy to make and doesn’t take up a lot of time. Perfect for busy days or chilly nights.
Make-Ahead Slow Cooker Beef Roast
Make your weeknights easier with this tasty slow cooker beef roast. Spend some time on Sunday meal prep. Then, enjoy tender beef in sandwiches, tacos, or with roasted veggies all week.
For the best taste, sear the beef before slow cooking. This makes it more flavorful and tender. Choose lean cuts like tenderloin or sirloin for a healthier option. Slow cooking makes the meat incredibly tender.
Perfect for Sunday Meal Prep
Busy weeknights? This slow cooker beef roast is a lifesaver. Prepare a big roast on Sunday. It’s ready for many dishes all week. This saves time and reduces cooking stress.
Crispy Bits with a Quick Broil Before Serving
For a special touch, broil the beef roast before serving. This step adds crispy, caramelized bits. Your family will love the tender beef with crispy edges.
| Prep Time | Cooking Time | Total Time | Yield | Serving Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 8 hours 10 minutes | 8 hours 20 minutes | 7 servings | 3 ounces beef + mushrooms + 1/2 cup polenta |
| Calories | Carbs | Protein | Fat | Saturated Fat | Cholesterol | Sodium | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 361 kcal | 37 g | 33 g | 9 g | 3 g | 72 mg | 754 mg | 1.5 g | 7 g |
Adding this slow cooker beef roast to your Sunday prep changes weeknights. It’s a delicious, versatile protein for many dishes.
Versatile Slow Cooker Meatballs
Looking for a versatile meatball recipe? These slow cooker meatballs are perfect for busy weeknights. They require minimal prep and cook hands-off, making a delicious meal ready quickly.
Our recipe combines half ground chuck and half ground beef . This mix gives the meatballs a rich, savory taste. The tangy tomato sauce complements the meat, making it a hit with the family.
Serve with Pasta or as Subs
These slow cooker meatballs are versatile. Serve them over pasta for a classic Italian meal, or in sub rolls for a tasty sandwich. Meatball subs are great for game day or casual dinners.
They’re also perfect for make-ahead meals. Prepare the recipe as directed and store the cooked meatballs in the fridge or freezer. Reheat them in the slow cooker or on the stovetop when you’re ready.
“I love how easy these slow cooker meatballs are to make. I can throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a delicious meal in the evening.” – Sarah, busy mom of three
With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, these slow cooker meatballs are a must-try. They’re perfect for pasta or meatball subs, and will quickly become a family favorite.
easy school night dinners slow cooker
Busy school nights can be tough. But, having easy slow cooker recipes can save the day. These meals are quick to prepare and cook without much effort. Plus, they’re kid-friendly, so even picky eaters will enjoy them.
Slow Cooker Recipes for Every Taste
This collection from Real Food Whole Life has over 30 slow cooker meals perfect for school nights. You can make the easiest crockpot lasagna without chopping. Or, try the 3-ingredient crockpot salsa chicken stuffed potatoes for a tasty meal. For vegetarians, the 5-ingredient black bean sweet potato chili is a great choice.
Quick Prep and Hands-Off Cooking
Slow cooker meals are great because they require little prep time. Recipes like buffalo chicken chili and 6-ingredient chicken tacos need only a few minutes to prepare. This makes them ideal for busy nights when you’re short on time.
| Recipe | Prep Time | Total Time | Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easiest Crockpot Lasagna | 15 minutes | 4 hours | 6-8 |
| Crockpot Salsa Chicken Stuffed Potatoes | 10 minutes | 6 hours | 4 |
| Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili | 15 minutes | 6-8 hours | 6 |
Kid-Approved Meals
Getting kids to eat different foods can be hard. But, these slow cooker recipes are sure to please. The enchilada chicken is great for weeknights, and the homemade crockpot spaghetti sauce is full of flavor. For a fun twist, try the hamburger soup, ready in just 35 minutes.
I love how easy and versatile these slow cooker recipes are! They’ve become a staple in our meal planning rotation.
This collection offers a wide range of recipes from the US and Canada. You’ll find everything from meaty dishes to vegetarian options and recipes that mix sweet and savory flavors. It’s a great source of inspiration for any meal.
Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Busy weeknights need easy, tasty meals that don’t take long to prepare. Slow cooker chicken recipes are perfect for families always on the move. With simple ingredients and a bit of planning, you can have a delicious dinner ready when you get home.
The Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe is a favorite for quick dinners. It needs just 10 minutes of prep and has chicken, cream cheese, ranch, and bacon. Cook it on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours for a tasty meal everyone will love.
Shredded chicken recipes are great for busy nights too. Slow cooker shredded chicken is versatile and can be used in tacos, enchiladas, salads, and sandwiches. Making a big batch saves time and stress.
Chicken and rice slow cooker recipes are also great for a comforting meal. They’re nutritious, with protein, carbs, and veggies. Plus, the slow cooker makes it easy, leaving you more time with your family.
“Using frozen chicken in the slow cooker is not recommended by the FDA due to cooking time concerns.”
When making slow cooker chicken, use good ingredients and follow food safety. While frozen chicken might seem convenient, the FDA warns against it. This is because of cooking time and the risk of bacteria growth.
| Recipe | Prep Time | Cooking Time (High) | Cooking Time (Low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crock Pot Crack Chicken | 10 minutes | 3 hours | 5-6 hours |
| Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken | 15 minutes | 4 hours | 6-8 hours |
Conclusion
This slow cooker recipes roundup shows how easy it is to use a slow cooker for dinner. You only need 10-20 minutes to prepare, and then it cooks for 4-8 hours. This means busy moms can relax while their meals cook.
These recipes offer a mix of comfort food and international flavors. They’re also healthy because they use less fat and oil. Plus, they’re affordable, using cheap cuts of meat that get tender and tasty.
This collection includes soups, stews, and main dishes like chicken noodle soup and beef Bourguignon. Each recipe has 10-20 ingredients, offering a variety of tastes and nutrients. Adding these recipes to your meal plan makes dinner time easier and more enjoyable.
Try these easy dinners and let your slow cooker make weeknights stress-free. With little effort, you get big flavors. These recipes are perfect for busy evenings, letting you focus on family time.